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for his good. He had yet to learn what Alinor was like when she felt her own good was at stake. He had yet to learn that when she agreed to marry him, he had become "hers, to her." That meant not only that his good and hers were inextricably bound together in her mind, but also that no part of his mind or soul would be left in peace until Alinor had picked it apart and understood it thoroughly. |
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"Ian," she said softly but insistently, "what of the king's mind?" |
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His lips twisted bitterly. "What of it? To his mind there is no word or act, except "yea," that is not treason. Has he not deprived Pembroke of every honor he could strip from him for giving him good advice? That, too, is treason in King John's mind. If it is not by his order, it is treason. And what was by his order yesterday may be treason tomorrow." |
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Alinor folded Ian's hands together and held them between hers. "And yet you will follow him and obey him?" |
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"There is no one else!" Ian cried. "Do you not understand? Since Normandy was lost to Philip three years ago, England is all there is for the English lords. We must have a king who understands that." |
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"You believe John understands that? His whole mind is fixed upon making his provinces in France safe and winning back Normandy," Alinor remarked caustically. |
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Ian's lean cheeks showed bunches of muscle as his jaw clamped. "It is true and yet not true. John would not see his patrimony eatenwell, Alinor, what of you? Would you sit and see someone take what was yours? Would I?" |
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It was an honest and reasonable point. Alinor nodded. |
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"But for all of that, John knows England is most important," Ian continued. "It is England that is his home and the place he best loves. Here he comes to rest and take his pleasures" |
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